Martin O'Neill has rubbished reports which suggested he had offered to resign from Sunderland at the weekend.

The Black Cats were beaten 4-2 by high-flying West Brom at the weekend and are now just three points off the drop zone in the Premier League following a poor run of form.

Following the defeat, Sunderland were forced to deny reports which claimed their manager had offered to fall on his sword. And O'Neill, who signed a three-year deal last year, has admitted the resignation talk came as a surprise.

"Yes, it was a bit of a surprise, really," O'Neill said. "Nothing probably should surprise me in the game, but yes.

"There was nothing in it. Anybody can tweet these days. I think it happened a couple of years ago as well, something like that, a similar sort of thing. But that's the nature of it. But no, I was pretty surprised."

Sunderland face bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday and O'Neill is looking for his side to bounce back to form.

He said: "We have got a fairly lengthy time to go. It's an important game, it's every bit as important as the game against West Bromwich Albion, and the one against Fulham, of course.

"It would be nice to win the match. I wouldn't say it's going to define everything, but all games are important."

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